Car-coupling



No. 627,324. Patented Julie 20, I899. M. J. CLARK.

GAR COUPLING.

ication filed Sept. 19, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

/ I I v a, j W

A TTOHNEYS Patented June 20,1899.

M. J. CLARK.

GAR COUPLING.

(Applipation filed Sept. 19, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES MORTIMER J. CLARK, OF SUMMITVILLE, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 627,324, dated June 20, 1899. Application fllecl September 19,1899. $erial No. 691,319. (No model.)

To Cl/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORTIMER J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Summitville, in the county of Rio Grande and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Oouplers'; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to car-couplings and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, as hereinafter de scribed.

The object of my invention is to provide a car-coupling, said coupling adapted to be antomaticall y operated and couple the cars when the cars are backed together.

The further object of the invention is to provide the mouth of the draw-head with a perpendicular partition, the sides of the said partition at the forward end converging to an edge, said partition at an intermediate" point being provided with an opening. In the rear of the partition a revolving cylinder is mounted, said cylinder having in its periphcry inclined grooves. A pair of catches are pivotally mounted in the interior of the drawhead. Above and in front of the cylinder the forward ends of said catches are adapted to pass through the link when the cars are coupled and adapted to enter the perforation of the partition of the draw-head, the rear portions of the catches being provided on their under sides with lugs adapted to enter the inclined grooves of the cylinder. A suitable means is provided whereby the link as it enters the mouth of the draw-head automatically causes the cylinder to make a partial revolution, and thus open the catches and permit the link to pass in. After the link has entered the cylinder is so weighted as to assume its normal position, and thus pass the catches through the opening of the link.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of the draw-head, partly in section, cut on the line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drawhead, out on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the draw-head. Fig. 3

is a perspective View of a link of especial construction adapted to be used when the drawhead, as shown and hereinafter described, is used in connection with the ordinary drawhead of a link-and-pin coupling. Fig a is a detail perspective view of the upper end of a lever used in the draw-head, and a set-screw adapted to be applied to said lever, and ahook for supporting an end of the lever. Fig. 4 is a top plan view, partlyin section, of a modified form of the invention, said figure being cut on the line 00 w of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a lon gitudinal sectional view of the modified form of the coupling as shown in Fig. 4:, Fig. 5 being cut on the line y y of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cylinder used in the coupling.

The draw-head 1 is adapted to be suitably connected to the body of the car by means of the draw-bar 2. The draw-head 1 is provided in its mouth with a perpendicular partition 3, said partition having its sides at its forward end converging to substantially a line. The partition 3 is provided at an intermediate point with a perforation 4E. The cylinder 5 is journaled in the lower rear portion of the draw-head 1, said cylinder being made heavier on one side by the weight 6. The cylinder 5 is provided in its periphery with the converging or inclined grooves 7 7, said grooves merging into each other at their inner ends and extending away from each other at their outer ends. The cylinder 5 is provided at one end with a number of teeth 8. The catches 9 are pivotally secured to the interior of the draw-head above and in front of the cylinder 5. Said catches are supported by means of a pin 10, said pin passing perpendicularly through the upper part of the drawhead 1. The lower end of the pin 10 passes through perforations in the angle extensions 11 of the catches 10. The outer portions 12 of the catches 9 are in the shape of an arc of a circle, and on the under side of the rear portions of the catches 9 the lugs 13 are fixed. The said lugs enter the grooves 7 of the cylinder 5 in a manner as indicated in Figs. 1 and i. In the form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the hook 14: is screwthreaded on the end of the pin 10, the said hook entering an eye in the upper end of the lever ICO 15, thereby pivotally supporting the said lever. The lever 15 is of substantially V-shaped construction, and the lower end of said lever is provided with a pivotal pawl 16, said pawl 16 being adapted to engage the ratchets 8 of the cylinder 5. The forward portion of the lever 15 is provided with the projection 17, said projection having in its end an internally-threaded recess adapted to receive the set-screw 18. A dog 19 is pivotally secured at its forward end in the lower portion of the mouth of the draw-head 1, the rear end of the said dog 19 resting upon the upper end of the set-screw 18, the said set-screw 18 being used as a means for adjustment and adapted to regulate the elevation or depression of the inner end of the dog 19. The link 20 is adapted to enter the mouth of the draw-head on either side of the partition 3 and is engaged with the catches 9, as hereinafter described.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Presuming that the parts are in the positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the link 20 having been secured in one draw-head, the car having such draw-head is then backed toward the draw-head, as shown in the said figures. The link entering the mouth of the drawhead comes in contact with the upper surface of' the dog 19 and presses the rear end of the said dog down. This causes the rear end of the lever 15 to move back, and the spring-aotuated pawl 16, engaging the ratchets 6 of the cylinder 5, causes the said cylinder to make a partial revolution. As this is done the lugs 13, being located within thegroove 7, cause the catches 9 to make a partial turn on their pivotal points. This opens the said catches and permits the link 21 to pass beyond the same in the mouth of the draw-head. WVhen the cylinder 5 is turned, the weight 6 is lifted, and the operator may then swing the dog 16 partially around on its pivot and cause the same to disengage the ratchets 8, and thus the weight 6 will cause the said cylinder 5 to assume its normal position, which in turn will cause the forward ends of the catches 9 to pass through the opening of the link, and thus the cars are coupled, or the said setscrew 18 may be removed or placed in such a'position that when the inner end of the dog 9 is pressed down the said end will clear the upper end of the projection 17, the link in the meantime having entered the mouth of the draw-head. When the inner end of the dog 9 has cleared said projection, the weight (Swill cause the cylinder 5 to assume its normal position. Thus the cars will be automatically coupled. In order to uncouple the cars in the form of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the lower end of the chain 21 is attached to the cylinder 5 in the vicinity of the weight 6.

through the opening in the upper part of the draw-head, and by-pulling the said chain the said cylinder is caused to make a partial revo- The said chain passes up v lution, and this operates the ends of the catches 9 and frees the link. The cars can then be readily pulled apart. When coupling cars, one car having the ordinary linkpin draw-head and the other car having a draw-head, as above described, the link, as shown in Fig. 3, is used. For such saidlink has a horizontal portion a, provided withan opening, the said opening of the said horizontal portion being adapted to receive the pin of the ordinary draw-head. At the opposite end of the link the perpendicular portion Z), provided with an opening, is located, and the said portion 19 is adapted to enter the mouth of the draw-head, as above described. In the form of the invention as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a sliding lever 15 is used, said lever having at its forward end the projection 17. The pawl 16 is pivotally attached to the lever 15, the forward end of the pawl being normally held down by the weight 16". The rear end of the said pawl is adapted to engage the teeth 8 on the cylinder 5. The arm 21 is pivotally attached at its upper end to the inside of the drawhead 1, said arm passing through a recess 22 (see Fig. 4) in the lever 15, the lower end of the said arm 21 being provided with the weight 23. The said arm 15" is adapted to move longitudinally, and when the said arm is pushed back by means of the link coming in contact with the projection 17 the lower end of the arm 21 is slightly elevated, and thus the said arm 21 and the weight 23 assume an abnormal position. The instant that the link is carried away from the projection 17 the arm 21 in its endeavor to assume its normal position forces the lever 15 to the front.

that described for the form as shown in Figs.

1 and 2.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLett-ers Patent, is-

1. A coupling consisting of a draw-head, catches pivoted therein, a cylinder journaled in the draw-head, said cylinder having converging grooves in its periphery, lugs located on the catches and entering the grooves of the cylinder and a suitable means for operating the cylinder, substantially as described.

2. Acar-coupling consisting of adraw-head, catches pivoted in the draw-head, apartition located in the mouth of the draw-head, said partition having a perforation adapted to receive the ends of the catches, a cylinder j ournaled in the draw-head, said cylinder having in its periphery grooves, lugs located on the journaled in the draw-head, said cylinder having in its periphery grooves, lugs located on the catches and'entering said grooves, a lever located within the draw-head, said lever having a pawl, said cylinder having ratchets, the said pawl adapted to engage the said ratchets, the lever adapted to be operated by the contact of the link. 7

4. Acar-coupling consisting ofadraw-head, catches pivoted within the draw hcad, a cylinder journaled within the draw-head, said cylinder being provided on one side with a weight, said cylinder having in its periphery grooves, lugs located on the catches and entering said grooves and a suitable means adapted to cause the cylinder todescribe a partial revolution and thereby separate the catches.

5. A car-coupling consisting ofa draw-head, catches pivoted within the draw-head, a cylinder journaled within the draw-head, said cylinder having in its periphery grooves, lugs located on the catches and entering said grooves,a mechanism located within the drawhead and adapted to cause the cylinder to describe a partial revolution, a mechanism connected with the cylinder and leading above the draw-head, the last said mechanism when operated also being adapted to cause the cylinder to describe a partial revolution.

6. Acar-couplingconsistingofadraw-head, catchespivoted Within the draw-head, the forwardly-extending ends of the catches describing an arc of a circle, a cylinder journaled within the draw-head, said cylinder having in its periphery gro oves,lugs fixed to the catches and entering said grooves and a mechanism adapted to cause the cylinder to describe a partial revolution.

'7. A car-cou pling consistin g of a draw-head, catches pivoted within the draw-head, a cylinder journaled within the draw-head, said cylinder having on its periphery inclined grooves, lugs attached to the catches and entering said grooves and a mechanism located within the draw-head and adapted to be operated by the link and adapted to cause the cylinder to describe a partial revolution.

8. Acar-coupling consisting ofa draw-head, an angular catch pivoted therein, a cylinder journaled in the draw-head having a groove therein, and a lug formed on the angle of the catch adapted to slide in the slot of the cylinder to operate the catch, substantially as described.

9. Acar-coupling consisting ofadraw-head, a catch pivoted in the draw-head, a cylinder journaled in the draw-head having a groove in its periphery, a lug on the catch engaging said groove, a lever pivoted in the draw-head, a pawl on the lever adapted to engage teeth on the cylinder and a dog located in the mouth of the draw-head to operate said lever, sub stantially as described.

10. A car-coupling consisting of a drawhead, angular catches pivoted in the drawhead, a partition located in the mouth of the draw-head having a perforation therein adapted to receive the ends of the catches, a cylinder journaled in the draw-head having converging grooves in its periphery, lugs on the angles of the levers traveling in the grooves of the cylinder, a lever pivoted in the draw head, a pawl on the end of the lever adapted to engage teeth of the cylinder, a dog pivoted in the mouth of the draw-head and bearing on said lever, and means for rotating the cylinder independent of the lever, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the character described, a draw-head, angular catches pivoted therein, a partition located in the mouth of the draw-head having an aperture to receive the ends of the catches, a cylinder having converging grooves journaled Within the drawhead, lugs on the catches at their angles entering said grooves, a Weight located on one side of the cylinder, a lever j ournaled in the draw-head, a spring-pressed pawl pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage teeth of the cylinder, a projecting lug formed on the lever, a set-screw threaded in said lug, a dog pivoted in the mouth of the draw-head and resting on said set-screw and a chain passing through an opening in the rear part of the draw-head and engaging the cylinder, substantially as described.

12. A coupling comprising a draw-head, a cylinder j ournaled therein, alever fulcrumed in the draw-head having one end extending within the mouth thereof and the other end engaging said cylinder and means for engaging a link operated by said cylinder, -substantially as described.

13. A coupling comprising a draw-head, a cylinder j ournaled therein, a lever fulcrumed in the draw-head having one end extending within the mouth thereof, a spring-pressed pawl on the other end of the lever, teeth 011 the cylinder engaged by said pawl, and means for engaging a link operated by said cylinder, substantially as described.

14. A car-coupling comprising a draw-head, a cylinder journaled therein, a lever fulcrumed in the draw-head having one end engaging the cylinder, a dog pivoted in the mouth of the draw-head and adapted to bear on the other end of the lever, and means for engaging a link operated by said cylinder, substantially as described.

15. A coupling comprising a draw-head, a

' cylinder journaled therein, a lever fulcrumed in the draw-head having one end extending within the mouth thereof, a dog pivoted in the mouth of the draw-head and bearing on said end of the lever, a spring-pressed dog pivoted on the other end of the lever, teeth on the cylinder adapted to be engaged by said spring-pressed dog, and means for engaging a link operated by said cylinder, substantially as described.

16. A car-couplingcomprisinga draw-head, a cylinder journaled therein, a weight on one side of the cylinder, a lever fulcrumed in the draw-head having one end projecting within pendent of the lever, substantially as dethe mouth thereof, a set-screw threaded in scribed. 10 said end of the lever, a dog pivoted in the In testimony whereof I affix my signature month of'the draw-head and bearing on the in presence of two witnesses.

5' set-screw, a spring-pressed pawl pivoted on MORTIMER J. CLARK.

the other end of the lever, teeth on the oyl- \Vitnesses:

' inder for engaging said spring-pressed pawl, l DANIEL ONEIL,

and means for revolving the cylinder inde- JAMES EWING. 

